KELOWNA, B.C. — The UBCO Heat men's volleyball team (3-0) defeated the U SPORTS No. 2-ranked Alberta Golden Bears (2-1) in a four-set match on Friday at UBCO Gymnasium, winning 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21. The Heat's attack was highlighted by a strong fourth set, hitting .517 to come away with the victory.

Seba Manuel led the team with 17 kills, posting a hitting percentage of .556 and contributing 19.5 points across four sets. Zach van Geel orchestrated the offence effectively with 29 assists while also adding five digs and four total blocks. Thys Weststrate was a defensive force at the net, accumulating six total blocks and adding eight kills with a .294 hitting percentage. Ashton South showcased efficient attacking, finishing with a .778 hitting percentage on seven kills from nine attempts.

Jacob Sargent led Alberta with 17 kills on a .343 hitting percentage and contributed 19.5 points.

The first set opened with a competitive exchange, where van Geel made notable contributions, assisting on kills by Thys Weststrate and Xander van Driel. Despite the Heat's efforts, they struggled to maintain momentum against Alberta's early lead. A critical timeout was called when the visiting team extended their advantage to 10-4. 

UBCO showed resilience, reducing the gap to 20-20 with a service ace from van Geel and a kill by Manuel. However, Alberta closed the set at 25-21, capitalizing on a few critical plays to secure the lead.

In the second set, the Heat capitalized on key errors by the Golden Bears, establishing an early 7-4 lead. The hosts maintained their advantage with a strong block from Manuel, prompting an Alberta timeout. Although Alberta rallied to tie the score at 14, several attack errors from the visitors allowed UBCO to regain control.

Lucas Woelders delivered crucial points, including the final kill, to secure the set for the Heat. The set concluded with a 25-23 victory for the home team.

The Heat orchestrated a significant comeback in the third set, overcoming an early deficit against the Golden Bears. A pivotal moment occurred when Seba Manuel delivered a series of kills, narrowing the score and shifting momentum. This was followed by a crucial service ace from Xander van Driel, which tied the game at 16, leading to a timeout by Alberta.

Following the timeout, UBCO maintained their momentum, with a decisive play sequence that included kills from Weststrate and Manuel, and a ball handling error by Alberta's Trent Cherewaty. This run propelled the Heat to a 24-20 lead. The set concluded with a bad set from Alberta's Dylan Martens, securing a 25-20 victory for UBCO.

The Heat secured a decisive fourth set win against Alberta, with a final score of 25-21. Manuel's consistent performance, including multiple kills assisted by van Geel, propelled the home team forward. Notably, van Geel also contributed defensively with key blocks alongside South. Despite a brief challenge from Alberta, UBCO maintained their momentum, ultimately clinching the set and concluding the match with their victory.

Up next for the Heat, they will go for the weekend sweep of the Golden Bears on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m. The match will be hosted at the UBCO Gymnasium and tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting GoHeat.ca/Tickets.

Game Notes:
- The victory marked the first-ever win for UBCO over Alberta in men's volleyball
- Manuel recorded the second-best hitting percentage in a single game in his career
- South recorded the third-best hitting percentage in a single game in his career